I AM amazed that after hearing that a fellow councillor had been found guilty of a vicious assault that the leader of Richmond District Council, John Blackie, stated that he had full confidence in the councillor, Jane Parlour (Echo, Mar 18). How can this be? Not only has she lost the case, but she has also been placed in the position whereby she must not approach the family involved in the case for two years?

The question for Cllr Blackie is simple: is this the old boy’s network in operation? Surely a councillor must be able to approach all of the residents they represent, and if they cannot should a resignation be expected?

Martin Flanagan, Catterick Garrison.